This definition breaks down into three distinct pillars: Philosophical Origin Description "The Good Life" Aiming at fulfillment Aristotelian ( Telos )
The bridge between idem and ipse —between static sameness and dynamic selfhood—is narrative identity . For Ricoeur, we don't just "have" a self; we construct it through the stories we tell about our lives.
Focuses on description and reference using analytic action theory (Strawson and Searle). paul ricoeur oneself as another pdf
Navigating the identity of patients suffering from cognitive decline, such as Alzheimer's, where idem remains but ipseity alters. Key Terms Reference Quick Definition Philosophical Field Idem Sameness; what remains physically constant. Ipse Selfhood; the changing, relational "Who". Hermeneutics Alterity Otherness; the state of being different. Emplotment Organizing life events into a story. Literary Theory
This formulation splits Ricoeur's moral philosophy into three interconnected pillars: 1. The Aim of the "Good Life" (Aristotelian Teleology) This definition breaks down into three distinct pillars:
: Ricoeur famously defines the ethical life as "aiming at the 'good life' with and for others, in just institutions ".
: The expansion of ethics into the political sphere to ensure fairness for everyone. 4. Attestation: Trust Over Certainty Navigating the identity of patients suffering from cognitive
Ricoeur begins by positing that the concept of self-identity (idem) is inherently problematic. He argues that traditional notions of self-identity, which rely on notions of sameness, continuity, and unity, are insufficient to account for the complexities of human experience. Instead, Ricoeur proposes that self-identity is characterized by a fundamental ambiguity, which he terms the "enigmatic character of human identity."
The ultimate expression of pure selfhood ( ipse ) occurs when a person keeps a promise. When you say, "I will be there tomorrow," your physical body or mood ( idem ) might change by tomorrow, but your commitment ( ipse ) remains intact. Keeping a promise is an act of faithfulness to oneself and to the other person, completely independent of physical permanence. 3. Narrative Identity: The Third Study